Tanjung Lesung (pictured) is one of the sites the government wants to develop into a "Bali"

Indonesia’s industrial estate developer Jababeka has extended an open invitation to foreign developers and tourism stakeholders to help build a “New Bali” in Tanjung Lesung, Banten Province, about 180km from Jakarta.

Tanjung Lesung, comprising an area of 1,500 hectares, was accorded the Special Economic Zone status by president Joko Widodo in 2015, allowing foreign investors to own property with perks such as reduced income tax; no import tax; suspension of import duty; and no VAT or luxury goods tax. The area is also allowed to give permanent residence permits to elderly foreigners, or foreigners who invest or buy property at a certain value.

Tanjung Lesung (pictured) is one of the sites the government wants to develop into a “Bali”

Of the designated 10 New Bali’s chosen by the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia, Tanjung Lesung is the closest to Jakarta, and boasts many natural and cultural attractions such as Mount Krakatau, Ujung Kulon National Park and the traditional Baduy village.

Development is now underway, as the developer has prepared the Salakanagara Airport to be compatible with the ATR-42 planes, while a flight school that is expected to groom prospective local and foreign pilots. The government is also building the Serang-Panimbang toll road, which will shorten travel time from Jakarta to less than two hours.

With the help from foreign investors and support from the Indonesian government, Tanjung Lesung will have potential to become an area like Nusa Dua in Bali, opined Poernomo Siswoprasetijo, CEO of Banten West Java, a subsidiary of Jababeka which has been given the responsibility to develop the area.